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December 21, 2010

Rangers' interest in Brandon Webb intensifies

The Texas Rangers and former National League Cy Young winner Brandon Webb continue to work toward a contract for next season, and sources said that there are plans for him to speak later today on the phone with manager Ron Washington and pitching coach Mike Maddux.

Webb, a right-hander, is seeking a one-year deal low in guaranteed money but loaded with incentives, according to a source. The Rangers typically like to have an option year included with deal for high-risk players, but Webb's agent, Jonathan Maurer, has told teams that Webb wants only one year.

The Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs are also believed to be interested, but a source said that Webb wants to play for the Rangers.

Webb, who turns 32 in May, won the Cy Young award in 2006 with Arizona and was the runner-up the next two seasons.

But he hasn't pitched since Opening Day of the 2009 season because of a shoulder injury that required surgery in 2009. Keith Meister, the Rangers' team physician, performed the operation on the teres major muscle near the shoulder blade, and Webb finally returned after a few setbacks to pitch this year the instructional league for Arizona.

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Webb would be an interesting sign. But he's not the replacement for Lee/Greinke.

He would be placed in a competitive pool of SPs, including Holland, Feldman, Kirkman, McClung, Hurley and Omar Beltre for the 4th and 5th rotation spots. That's the SP depth that JD is looking to create.

However, just imagine if Brandon could return to his old form. It would help widen the gap between us and the A's and Angels.

Odds are heavy against it happening, but it's fun to imagine as we sip a hot refreshment by the stove during Christmas.

32 years old is no spring chicken. If he's healed, this will be the best year of his career. He knows he's no longer young and his days are numbered. So, he wants to sign only a one year contract so he can knock everybody's socks, have a 20+ win season, and get someone to sign him to what will probably be his last long-term contract. It would be worth it to buy the best year of a pitcher's career.

the odds are much more likely this will be this year's Rich Harden. and on a massive pitch/innings count and highly likely to be re-injured.

there's little chance he returns to any "form" after this kind of injury and duration away.

if we signed him and if he managed to pitch a full year, i'd be amazed if we got an ERA under 4.50 out of him. it's not going to happen. this is emergency backup plan D, which would look great if we had Lee to add a Webb and take a chance on, not so good with no Lee.

somehow we need to get someone who wasn't a corpse the past 2 years and who is or nearly is a staff ace. and therein lies the problem that is probably not solvable.

You got it right Swami. Jon Daniels is famous for doing that. We hoped for Lee or Greinke so Daniels wants Brandon Webb. Next he'll bring back Harden. It's starting to look like the recent successful season was a one-time event.